No Brain Behind

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Rachel Forman and Dr. Imama Naqvi discuss the SEQUINS Scholars Program, a training initiative designed to equip medical students and neurology residents with the tools to advance brain health equity through community engagement, advocacy, quality improvement, and research. They share how the program supports mentorship, collaboration, didactic learning, off...

In recognition of Stroke Awareness Month, the hosts of No Brain Behind sit down with comedian and actor Keith Robinson for a candid conversation about surviving two strokes, navigating recovery, and reclaiming his voice through comedy. Known for his work on Def Comedy Jam and Chappelle’s Show, Keith shares the deeply personal story behind his Netflix special Different Strokes, from ignoring warnin...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , we discuss how dementia prevention must be designed for diverse populations across the globe. This conversation explores how biological, psychosocial, and economic factors intersect to shape brain and cognitive aging across the life course, and why prevention strategies developed in one setting may not translate to another. We highlight the multinational AFRICA...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , guest host Dr. Neeharika Krothapalli is joined by Dr. Dileep Yavagal, interventional neurologist, Director of Interventional Neurology at the University of Miami, and founder of Mission Thrombectomy. He shares his journey in advancing global access to stroke care and discusses how collaboration, advocacy, and innovation, from policy efforts to emerging technolo...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. George Howard and Dr. Suzanne Judd discuss their leadership of the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study, one of the largest longitudinal investigations of stroke disparities in the United States. They share how the study was designed to examine persistent racial and geographic disparities in stroke, including the elevated...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Charles “Chuck” Hillman, director of the Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University, discusses his research on how physical activity shapes brain health across the lifespan. He outlines a multidisciplinary program integrating randomized interventions, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral methods to examine the effects of...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Stephanie Lyden and Dr. Lee Chung, neurologists at the University of Utah, discuss the challenges and innovations shaping rural neurologic care. They explore how geographic distance, limited infrastructure, and fragmented health systems impact access to time-sensitive stroke care in rural and Indigenous communities, and how tele-stroke and tele-neurology ar...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Monica Diaz discusses key global developments in multiple sclerosis presented at the 2025 ECTRIMS Congress. She reviews updates to diagnostic criteria for MS and NMOSD, advances in disease-modifying therapies, and emerging safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The conversation also highlights how social determinants of health shape MS outcomes worldwi...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Jonathan Rosand and Dr. Helena Lavretsky discuss innovative approaches to brain health that integrate prevention, lifestyle, and integrative medicine. They highlight tools such as the Brain Care Score , mind-body interventions, and strategies to empower patients and caregivers. The conversation emphasizes how evidence-based, personalized care can strengthen...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Carter Denny, stroke neurologist, and Angie Cauthorn, stroke survivor and advocate, discuss the critical transition from hospital to home in stroke recovery. Drawing on insights from the 2025 Stroke Transitions of Care and Post-Stroke Care Conference, they highlight how recovery is shaped not only by clinical care but also by social, geographic, and systemi...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Harris Eyre, physician-neuroscientist and global leader in the Brain Capital movement, discusses a framework that positions brain health and brain skills as essential assets for individuals, societies, and economies. He explores how investing in cognitive and emotional well-being can drive innovation, strengthen economies, and advance global health equity....

In this episode of No Brain Behind, Dr. Virginia Howard (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and Dr. Matt Reeves (Michigan State University) discuss disparities in stroke care and research for women. They examine women-specific risk factors, the development of stroke risk scores, and barriers to women’s participation in clinical trials, along with emerging strategies to address these gaps. The co...

In this episode of No Brain Behind , Dr. Mitchell Elkind, neurologist and past President of the American Heart Association, discusses his career in neurology and vascular research and his leadership in advancing brain health. He explores the American Heart Association’s evolving role in stroke prevention, cognitive aging, and addressing health inequities through community-focused initiatives and i...

In this special World Brain Day episode of No Brain Behind, Drs. Rachel Forman and Christopher Orlando sit down with Dr. Steven Lewis, Secretary General of the World Federation of Neurology, to discuss global brain health and equity. Dr. Lewis shares insights on the growing burden of neurological disorders worldwide, the challenges of stigma and access, and the WFN’s initiatives to address these d...

In this episode of No Brain Behind, hosts Dr. Orlando and Dr. Das sit down with the editors of Equity Neuroscience, Drs. Karen Orjuela and Carlos Ortiz Garcia, to discuss the Equity Neuroscience journal. They share the role of the journal and how it is a place to share and document the work being done in brain health equity. They discuss some highlights to look for in the first issue of the journa...

In this special episode of No Brain Behind, guest hosts, Dr. Parneet Grewal, and Dr. Karen Orjuela, speak with the SEQUINS 2025 Hall of Fame honorees, Dr. Robert J. Adams, Dr. Cheryl Bushnell, Dr. Moira Kapral, Dr. Lewis Morgenstern, and Dr. Barbara Vickrey. These brilliant and highly accomplished scientists chatted with our hosts during the SEQUINS 2025 annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolin...

In this episode of No Brain Behind, hosts Drs. Gitanjali Das and Sonya Gleicher speak with Drs. Anjail Sharrief and Monica Diaz about their journeys into equity-focused neuroscience and the global impact of their work. Dr. Diaz shares her efforts to improve dementia care and access in underserved communities in Peru and Uganda, while Dr. Sharif discusses her initiatives in stroke prevention and sy...

In this inaugural episode, we sit down with Drs. Bruce Ovbiagele and Lilyana Amezcua, president and vice president of the Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS), to explore the origin story of the organization. They share the driving forces behind its creation, the urgent need to address inequities in neurological health, and how SEQUINS is building a global community around equity neuroscience...